FAQ

Do I need to complete Selection Criteria for non-government jobs?

Not for the most part unless they specifically request it in the advertisement.

Is a ‘Statement’, ‘Response’ or ‘Summary’ the same when addressing Selection Criteria?

YES! Don’t over think it. They are EXACTLY the same thing.

What’s a Criterion?

Criterion is singular and criteria is plural. Many people use criteria for the singular, but this is technically incorrect. Don’t stress …I’m sure I’ve done it on this site

How much do I need to write for each Selection Criterion?

You need to write enough information to convince the selection panel that you have the knowledge, skills and ability to perform the job. Quality is more important than quantity. A rule of thumb is to write between half a page and one page in length for each criterion. In some cases, you are advised regarding word length required.

How long does it take to answer Selection Criteria?

This is totally dependent on you! Although people who say: “I’ll just throw together an application and see how I go” or leave it to the last minute are very rarely appointed because their lack of effort and attention to detail shows through.

Personally, I have written Selection Criterion that have taken a few hours through to a few days. This varies depending on your written skills and experience in writing applications.

How do I answer triple barrel questions?

Yes it’s true, each selection criterion may have several parts. For example: written and oral communication skills are often paired with negotiation skills. You should be sure to address each section of the criterion question in order, ie: Written + Oral communication skills + Negotiation skills.

What should I do if I can’t answer a criterion question?

Think of it like a school exam paper. If you didn’t answer a question your exam you would receive zero points! Similarly, an unanswered key selection criteria is worth nothing. If you don’t have the precise experience they require, state your have similar experiences in other positions.

How many applications are usually received for each advertised position?

There is no right or wrong answer to this but for positions such as an Procurement Officer, you may be competing with hundreds of other applicants for the one available position …this would be a “worst case” scenario. It’s more likely to be between 20 – 50 applicant’s for most advertised positions.

What does short-listing mean?

Very simply put – the selection panel develops a short-list of applicants to be interviewed. They based who makes the short-list on how well applicants addressed Selection Criteria or other selection tasks.

What does ‘weighting’ of selection criteria mean?

The selection panel nominates the rating of each criterion according to the requirements for performing the job. There’s no such thing as an unimportant criterion. Even one weighted at 10% deserves 100% effort and may be the difference between being selected for the position and being the ‘runner-up’.

Why is writing Government Selection Criteria such a challenge for job applicants?

Because the employer requires a writing style which may not match everyday writing. If a person(you) hasn’t mastered this style they could well miss out on a job. Learn more about government writing styles.

Applicants may not understand their role in the process. They need to demonstrate why they are suitable for the role more so than the public sector where a resume will normally suffice.

You must ‘tell the story’ of what they have done previously and ‘sell’ it both in writing and at interview. It is not enough to just write or speak well. Doing both to a high standard will go along way to securing your government job.

Final word…

Now you have a basic understanding of what’s involved or required when applying for a government job. Remember when you learned to ride a bike? It was really difficult trying to stay upright and not fall off …put your feet on the ground to slow yourself down…avoid letter boxes etc… But, soon you worked out how to stay upright and now it’s automatic, you ride that bike without even thinking.

Similarly, applying for a government position involves learning of new skills. You’ll need to learn how to ‘sell’ yourself in your application, while supplying workplace examples that ‘show off’ your skills and experience.

Keep working – it’s a long journey but a worthwhile one.

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